Good Friday Football

[Sojourner]

[bulldog pommy]

Why can't we drink alcohol on Good Friday???? Didn't Jesus turn water into wine????

He started it and we all followed like good pilgrims should


Anyway bring on the footy on Good Friday

[Wedgie]

Why can't we drink alcohol on Good Friday????

We can't?

Crikey, noone told me, Ive been doing it for years.
Jeepers, next you'll tell me I can't eat meat.
With no booze or meat that'll really stuff up my traditional BBQ party.

Seriously though, as someone mentioned previously it would be interested how the other codes around the world handle this or if its only an issue with antiquated laws here.

PS Just found an interesting fact, Good Friday is a holiday in Indonesia!

[bulldog pommy]

I'm not religious, never have been and never will be. I don't hold anything against religious freaks as long as they don't shove it in my face and wake me up Sunday morning.

My wife however is very partial to shouting out gods name from the bedroom every Sunday If only I was in there with her

[Wedgie]

In regard to the selling of alcohol I found this on the net, not sure how true it is or not but if it is the clubs are currently missing out on a gold mine:

sporting grounds operate under a special facilities licence which means they can sell alcohol whenever they are hosting a sporting event....so therefore they will be able sell grog, not that you need alcohol for a good time. Every drunk in town would turn up because its the only place they will be able to get a drink. The gates will be locked 2 hours before the game.

[godoubleblues]

reminds me of the former All Black Michael Jones who due to his strong christian beliefs wouldnt play rugby on sundays
he played through the late 80's and early 90's and was one of the best players of his time, the All Blacks ended up not picking him for a world cup because a couple of the finals were going to be played on a sunday
he certainly stuck to his principles though

[Wedgie]

Thing that annoys me about this is you don't have to be Nostradamus to see what will happen.
In 3 to 5 years time the AFL will decide to have a Good Friday game.
In 5 to 7 years time the SANFL will copy them.

Time for us to do what the WAFL is considering and grab the bull by the horns and not just follow what the AFL does.

[smac]

That's interesting about the licensing, if true I cannot see why the SANFL wouldn't schedule a game on Good Friday.

The confusion above is simple to explain - you can drink on Good Friday, just can't buy it (most places anyway...)

[MatteeG]

Thing that annoys me about this is you don't have to be Nostradamus to see what will happen.
In 3 to 5 years time the AFL will decide to have a Good Friday game.
In 5 to 7 years time the SANFL will copy them.

Time for us to do what the WAFL is considering and grab the bull by the horns and not just follow what the AFL does.

Correct on all counts Wedgie: a big * for this pic:

[Punk Rooster]

as I'm not religious, & am leaning towards Pagan beliefs more than anything these days (insert the Simpson family chanting: "blood for thou, blood for thou.." ), I can't see why any religious holiday should prevent a game of football being played, much less me enjoying a nice steak & washing it down with a few cc & dry's.

I fully respect an individuals right to persue their religious beliefs, but why should one particular religion's beliefs infringe on the rests ability to enjoy sport, a few drinks or a good meal?

One thing I do believe, is that we're long overdue to review our calendar & the way/why we take holidays- I'd much rather we had "Religious Days" for each religion to celebrate in their own way, but I digress...

[MightyEagles]

I'm Catholic, so any Good Friday match I wont be able to attend due to traditional family commitments.
Having said that I'm not against footy on Good Friday. If it brings the crowds then I see no problem. Those with religious commitments simply cant attend the game.
I'll be happy provided its televised. We cant eat meat but we can still watch TV on that day you know.

Go to church in the morning!

He can, but there would be no one there on Good Friday, cause the service is usually at 3pm.

[maxyoz]

No footy on Good Friday is Christians' selfish view only - society has had enough of their control and is over it - Easter (not Good) Friday must have SANFL & AFL footy.

But by that rational, ML, there should be no Public Holiday on Good Friday or Easter Monday as these days are for us Christians with our Selfish views. Therefore, footy on Good Friday becomes a non-relevant discussion because we will all be at work anyway.

So back to footy on Saturdays and Sundays with Meat and Beer and Public Transport - play on.

[Pseudo]

No footy on Good Friday is Christians' selfish view only - society has had enough of their control and is over it - Easter (not Good) Friday must have SANFL & AFL footy.

But by that rational, ML, there should be no Public Holiday on Good Friday or Easter Monday as these days are for us Christians with our Selfish views. Therefore, footy on Good Friday becomes a non-relevant discussion because we will all be at work anyway.

Not necessarily so. All we need is for Chairman Rudd of the People's Republic of Australia to co-opt the former pagan full-moon festival as National Days of Observance. Good Friday will henceforth be known as Gough Whitlam day. The Monday shall be known as Oakbank Day. There will be holidays after all, my good working-class comrades - and not a deity in sight to forbid us from eating meat, sinking grog or being more active than scratching our nuts!

[johntheclaret]

No footy on Good Friday is Christians' selfish view only - society has had enough of their control and is over it - Easter (not Good) Friday must have SANFL & AFL footy.

But by that rational, ML, there should be no Public Holiday on Good Friday or Easter Monday as these days are for us Christians with our Selfish views. Therefore, footy on Good Friday becomes a non-relevant discussion because we will all be at work anyway.

So back to footy on Saturdays and Sundays with Meat and Beer and Public Transport - play on.

Hammer, Nail, Head maxyoz. Without the Christian meaning, there would not be a Good Friday Holiday in the 1st place. Lets not forget that fact. Non Christians (myself included), should be grateful to be getting a day off because we live in a Christian country.

The question is whether SANFL footy on Good Friday is a viable prospect, based on the lack of public transport and the current licencing laws.

Whether the govt of Australia, should relax the licencing laws to fit in with a less Christian society is a bigger question.

[maxyoz]

No footy on Good Friday is Christians' selfish view only - society has had enough of their control and is over it - Easter (not Good) Friday must have SANFL & AFL footy.

But by that rational, ML, there should be no Public Holiday on Good Friday or Easter Monday as these days are for us Christians with our Selfish views. Therefore, footy on Good Friday becomes a non-relevant discussion because we will all be at work anyway.

Not necessarily so. All we need is for Chairman Rudd of the People's Republic of Australia to co-opt the former pagan full-moon festival as National Days of Observance. Good Friday will henceforth be known as Gough Whitlam day. The Monday shall be known as Oakbank Day. There will be holidays after all, my good working-class comrades - and not a deity in sight to forbid us from eating meat, sinking grog or being more active than scratching our nuts!

Hooray - Good work Pseudo. BTW, you missed nothing Saturday Night.

[Rushby Hinds]

Rumours of late night groping @ the Dublin, Pseudo and Maxyoz.

[JK]

Excellent posts Maxy and Johnnyboy.

[Wedgie]

Good Fridays also a public holiday in Indonesia. Whatever the day is for is irrelevent as other religions don't enforce their beliefs on us nor do horse racing lovers insist on no footy on Adelaide Cup day.

[JK]

I think JTC's last point is perhpas the most relevant one.

I have christian beliefs (yet sadly fail to practice them regularly), but I certainly have never forced them down anyone's throat, for me it's a very private thing, however I will say (and will possibly get stoned for doing so), that it's a belief people need to arrive at (or not) of their own volition, ie, it's all about choice (the fact that something is available doesn't make it complusory) - Therefore I don't think service of alcohol on Good Friday should banned, nor should football - Those who believe or don't can still make their OWN CHOICE as to what they will do in that time.

Just my 2 bobs worth

[Sojourner]

In relation to the no alcohol service law that stands on Good Friday, that rule is put there so that workers in the industry get the day off also, it is not a religious prohibition as such!

Also, if you look at a bus timetable, you will see that Good Friday often has a seperate schedule from other public holidays as because of the cost of running the services they are further cut back.